U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally assured him Beijing would not attempt to take Taiwan while Trump remains in office. The statement came during a Fox News interview aired Friday, shortly before Trump’s meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump recounted that Xi had told him directly: “I will never do it as long as you’re president.” According to Trump, Xi stressed that China has time on its side, describing himself and his government as patient in their approach to Taiwan. Trump added that he does not believe Beijing will act militarily against the island while he is in the White House.
The conversation between the two presidents adds another layer to already complex ties between Washington and Beijing. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. The island, home to more than 23 million people, has been self-governed since the late 1940s and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim.
In a statement Friday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu reiterated that Taiwan is the “core issue” in relations with the United States. Liu urged Washington to respect the one-China framework and handle the matter carefully to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Trump and Xi spoke by phone earlier this summer, their first confirmed call of Trump’s current term, though Trump has suggested that other informal conversations have also taken place. The president has sought to portray himself as a leader capable of avoiding global conflicts, contrasting his approach with the Biden administration’s handling of Ukraine.
Taiwanese officials reacted cautiously to Trump’s comments. Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker with the governing Democratic Progressive Party, expressed gratitude for support from the United States but emphasized that Taiwan must rely first on its own defenses. Writing on Facebook, Wang said security cannot depend solely on either promises from Beijing or backing from allies, stressing the need to strengthen Taiwan’s military capabilities.
U.S. defense officials have raised concerns that China could move against Taiwan in the coming years. Reports have circulated that Xi has set a 2027 goal for bringing the island under Beijing’s control, a timeline that has heightened worries in Washington and among regional partners. In June, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that an attack on Taiwan could trigger a devastating conflict stretching beyond Asia.
Trump’s interview also coincided with his Alaska summit with Putin, which ended without a ceasefire deal but was described by Trump as “productive.” Both leaders said they valued their working relationship, with Putin agreeing with Trump’s claim that the Ukraine war might not have begun if he had been president at the time.
As tensions continue in both Eastern Europe and East Asia, Trump’s revelation about Xi’s pledge highlights the fragile balance of power. Whether Beijing maintains its restraint, and how Washington positions itself in defense of Taiwan, will remain central questions for international security in the months ahead.
Green = USA
Taiwan = Orange
China = Red
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